ARTICLE: Dreams of Autarky

[ClaretTony]

Phil Whalley (London Clarets) reviews the new book Bob Lord of Burnley by mikes & davet

See link
http://www.uptheclarets.com/dreams-of-autarky" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Big thanks to Phil for this.

[CleggHall]

A great, painstaking review, an excellent read.
Many thanks to Phil Whalley and the book's authors.
We are blessed to have so many fine scribes generously supporting the clarets.

[martin_p]

Well that’s comprehensive! Not sure I need to read the book now

Great review and looks like it’ll be a great read.

[Culmclaret]

My mother grew up on Coal Clough Lane in the 20s and 30s. They did not buy their meat from Lord’s however!

[dsr]

If I hadn't already ordered the book, I certainly would now!

[Funkydrummer]

Don't need the book after reading that epistle.

[mdd2]

Phil Whalley (London Clarets) reviews the new book Bob Lord of Burnley by mikes & davet

See link
http://www.uptheclarets.com/dreams-of-autarky" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Big thanks to Phil for this.

Wow what an excellent read.

[Ashingtonclaret46]

What a great review. Certainly an interesting subject, particularly for those of us who have been around for a long time

[International class]

That's one hell of a review.

All together now:

"Bob Lord knows my father, father knows Bob Lord"

[Hibsclaret]

Great review.

Very interesting that lots of his premonitions came true. Definitely was a character and had his faults, no doubt about that.

He was clearly getting a bit too old during the 70s when his obstinance got the better of him and affected the club.

Would have been interesting seeing him in today’s football. Would probably be watching and cringing much like if the likes of Cloughie were around. Would probably prefer him to be in charge at another club though....

[ClaretLoup]

This article first appeared in the London Clarets mag. For a measly £22 you can join and get the bi-monthly magazine delivered through your letter box. The diarist is DaveT. and there are some other half decent scribes contributing as well. https://www.londonclarets.org.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

IMHO Phil is one of the best football writers that there is. He is also a mega Accy Stanley fan and has produced two really brilliant books. He has written the history of Stanley which covers the re-birth of the club from 1962 stops in 2006 after they re-gained their league membership. It is a forensic masterpiece. The title is "Accrington Stanley - The Club That Wouldn't Die"

Even better is a really evocative pictorial history entitled simply "Accrington Stanley Football Club" with those grainy B&W photos from the club's birth to its demise & the pics are enhanced by Phil's poignant commentary. Both are available on Amazon although the latter consists of a number of very pricey second hand volumes.

[mikeS]

Thanks Tony and to Phil for a great review.

[bfcjg]

There's enough for a film.

[Royboyclaret]

Purchased my copy from the Club shop yesterday and first impressions are it's going to be a fascinating read.

Looking at the photos in the middle of the book, there's one of the first team squad supposedly setting off for the second leg of the European Cup match against Hamburg........something doesn't look quite right........Anybody ?

[Rodleydave]

Come on Roy spill the beans...my heart sank when someone on FB mentioned the front cover was Bob Paisley

[Royboyclaret]

Come on Roy spill the beans...my heart sank when someone on FB mentioned the front cover was Bob Paisley

Well, Pilky is smack bang in the middle of the photo on the front row. By the time of the second leg in Hamburg Pilky had departed for Bolton by a few weeks. Looking at the photo above that in the book of the players off to New York in 1960, and of the way they are dressed, I'd say the bottom photo is more likely another one of that trip to USA.

[FCBurnley]

Whatever your opinion of Lord, the club would not have Barnfield ( Gawthorpe) without his foresight and ambition. A brilliant man who put a sleepy northern town at the centre of the football world.

[Royboyclaret]

Whatever your opinion of Lord, the club would not have Barnfield ( Gawthorpe) without his foresight and ambition. A brilliant man who put a sleepy northern town at the centre of the football world.

Absolutely agree.

He'd been instructed by Ernest Kay, the then Chairman, to not go beyond bidding £1,250 for Gawthorpe at the auction. He eventually went to £5,000 using funds from Lord's butchers and the rest is history. We recently spent £12 million converting the 79 acres into one of the finest training centres in football.

[JohnDearyMe]

Absolutely agree.

He'd been instructed by Ernest Kay, the then Chairman, to not go beyond bidding £1,250 for Gawthorpe at the auction. He eventually went to £5,000 using funds from Lord's butchers and the rest is history. We recently spent £12 million converting the 79 acres into one of the finest training centres in football.

What sort of sum would that be comparable to now do you think?

[FCBurnley]

What sort of sum would that be comparable to now do you think?

Difficult to say but you could probably buy a decent house for c 1000 pounds. Today 100,000 pounds so if you factor the 5000 x 100 then about half a million. Maybe a bit more but in that region. I started work in 1962 aged 15. Got paid 10 pounds a month so that will give you some idea of the inflation rate since then ! My parents bought a new bungalow on Highfield ave in mid/late 1960`s. Cost 2950 pounds.

[FCBurnley]

Well, Pilky is smack bang in the middle of the photo on the front row. By the time of the second leg in Hamburg Pilky had departed for Bolton by a few weeks. Looking at the photo above that in the book of the players off to New York in 1960, and of the way they are dressed, I'd say the bottom photo is more likely another one of that trip to USA.

Well spotted. Sounds right to me

[Royboyclaret]

Difficult to say but you could probably buy a decent house for c 1000 pounds. Today 100,000 pounds so if you factor the 5000 x 100 then about half a million. Maybe a bit more but in that region. I started work in 1962 aged 15. Got paid 10 pounds a month so that will give you some idea of the inflation rate since then ! My parents bought a new bungalow on Highfield ave in mid/late 1960`s. Cost 2950 pounds.

I'd put it at considerably more than half a million.

[ClaretTony]

In terms of inflation, my mum and dad moved into their house in 1949 and bought it two years later after initially renting it. In 1989 my mum had new windows and doors fitted and the front door cost more than the house had cost.

[Steve1956]

That review could be a book in itself.....that's some review is that .

[FCBurnley]

I'd put it at considerably more than half a million.

Your reply got me thinking. I have researched average UK farmland prices and according to Savills they were 80 GBP per acre. I would assume prices in the north were below that. Bob Lord paid just over 62 GBP per acre for Gawthorpe which sounds about right. Today the average price is 8000 GBP per acre, so if we apply the same logic and the purchase price I would say maybe 6500 per acre is about right in todays prices. So 80 acres @ 6200 = 496,000 GBP. If we use the national figure of 8000 per acre then we have 640,000 GBP.

Whatever the figure, it was the best 5000 pounds Burnley FC ever spent.

Any idea what admission prices on The Turf were in mid Fifties CT ?

[ClaretTony]

Any idea what admission prices on The Turf were in mid Fifties CT ?

Long before my time but I do remember paying 6d when I started going in 1960 although I can’t remember whether that was first team or reserves. I think it was reserves which would have meant 1/- for first team and adults paying 2/-

[FCBurnley]

Long before my time but I do remember paying 6d when I started going in 1960 although I can’t remember whether that was first team or reserves. I think it was reserves which would have meant 1/- for first team and adults paying 2/-

I have vague recollections of a season ticket costing about 1 pound but could be way wrong ( probably junior price in fifties)

[FCBurnley]

Standing ticket for 1966 World Cup Final cost 10 bob ! ( 50p)

[Royboyclaret]

".........At the 1948 Burnley AGM, a 38 years old Bob Lord was there again, sitting at the back, taking it all in. Despite announcing a Profit of almost £19,000 on the season, Burnley chairman Tom Clegg said there was little or no money available for new players........"

Some things never change.

[Rodleydave]

Going well int club shop, less so on Amazon it seems, support your local independent shop and order from Colne High St bookshop as well.
Don't know if it's in Smiths yet.